MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — An inspired world number one Serena Williams demolished Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska yesterday to surge into her 26th Grand Slam final and zero in on a seventh Australian Open title.

The dominant top seed was untouchable in overpowering the Pole 6-0, 6-4 in just 64 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to set up a final with seventh seed Angelique Kerber, who tamed British hope Johanna Konta 7-5, 6-2.

Of her 25 previous major finals, Williams has won 21.

The writing was on the wall for Radwanska; Williams had never lost a semi-final at Melbourne Park on her way to six titles, and had beaten the Pole in each of their previous eight meetings stretching back to 2008.

She crushed long-time rival Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals and dished out the same treatment to Radwanska, halting her 13-match win streak in emphatic fashion.

The victory puts Williams just one win away from matching Steffi Graf’s Open-era Grand Slam record of 22 titles, with Margaret Court’s all-time mark of 24 edging closer.

In her 16th Australian Open, Williams, who said this week she had no plans to retire any time soon, got on the front foot immediately, and effortlessly.

Within a minute of the match starting, she had a break point as she hit clean winners and attacked the net.

It was the worst possible opening for Radwanska, with Williams, the oldest world number one in WTA history, breaking and then using her huge power advantage to easily hold serve and go 2-0 clear.

Radwanska, 26, was in serious trouble with Williams attacking her vulnerable second serve, and a double fault left her flailing 0-3 behind.

The American was hitting booming shots to perfection, while Radwanska was struggling to get the ball over the net.

Her movement was virtually non-existent, and a feeble backhand had the top seed 5-0 ahead after just 17 minutes.

Radwanska could do nothing against an opponent playing on a different level and only won seven points the entire set — four of them from Williams’ unforced errors.

Williams won the set in 20 minutes, one of the fastest of the tournament and humiliating for Radwanska, last year’s WTA Finals champion and one of the world’s top players.